Saudi Arabia's stock market is opening up to foreign investors, who could previously only use derivatives to invest indirectly. However, the operational complexities could hinder the effort, writes Philip Stafford.

European policymakers are close to finalizing the revised Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, with the "vertical silo" model for derivatives exchanges being the final battleground, Philip Stafford writes.

The Group of 20 nations deserves more respect in the international community, writes Li Baodong, China's vice foreign minister for international organizations and conferences, international economic affairs and arms control. The G-20 has been instrumental in international coordination of macroeconomic policy, Li writes. "The G-20's achievements of the past five years may be underappreciated in some quarters, but that doesn't have to be the case in the coming years," Li writes.

Charles Schwab and Walt Bettinger, the founder and CEO of Charles Schwab, respectively, write that individual investors are leaving stock markets because of fears over high-frequency trading, market glitches and policy disincentives. Fixing tax and retirement policies, as well as taking simple measures to ensure the technological safety of markets, are important first steps in enticing individuals back to the market, they write.